Eugene Nicolaievich Ivanoff
Encyclopedia
Eugene Nicolaievich Ivanoff of Poland, who claimed to be Tsarevich Alexei Romanov in the mid-1920s, was one of the first in a long line of Romanov impostors to emerge from various parts of the world following the execution of Tsar Nicholas II
and his family at Yekaterinburg
on July 17, 1918. He was both one of the first Alexei claimants, and one of the first Romanov claimants to generate any sort of serious publicity in the European and American press.
newspaper Express Poranny and the article was subsequently adapted for publication in the French journal Le Matin by Henry de Korab. In his version, Korab reported that he had heard rumours that "Grand Duke Alexis" (sic) was living as a refugee in Poland, either somewhere in Pomerelia
or on the outskirts of Bydgoszcz. He noted: "there is on the subject a little conspiracy of silence; the persons knowledgable about the matter have, no doubt, interest in being silent and only answer you by monosyllables".
By his own account, Ivanoff fled the Yekaterinberg massacre in the company of "an old Cossack" and, passing through Siberia
, arrived at a German internment camp
and, with his knowledge of the German language, succeeded in gaining access. He was repatriated to Magdeburg
but then, in 1919, travelled back to Poland because, as he put it, "wanting to be nearer to Russia, for I was expecting changes in my country". After arriving in Pomerelia, Ivanoff spent two years in the protection of Abbott Biernaz, parish priest of Chelmo
, who was quoted as stating that the young man "is indeed the most authentic of the Czarevichs that he has, for several years, sheltered under his roof". The Abbott further noted that Ivanoff spoke perfect English, German and French, and that "he was knowledgeable of the lesser details of the court of Russia". He also appeared to suffer from haemophilia
, just like the real Tsarevich Alexei.
At the time that the article was published, Ivanoff was reported to be living in Bydogoszcz as the guest of a Russian emigre family named Zuruk. It was noted that "he sews and embroiders: feminine craftsmanship that the authentic Czarevitch has picked up as a habit during his long illnesses". On Sundays, Ivanoff also liked to dress up in the uniform of the former Russian Imperial Army. A photograph of the claimant in uniform, which accompanied the original article, is reproduced in Guy Richard's 1970 book, The Hunt for the Czar.
Ivanoff's claim was subsequently reported in several North American newspapers, including the New York Times, the Schenectady Gazette (New Jersey) and the Victoria Daily Advocate (Texas).
After his initial flurry of international publicity, Ivanoff seems to have disappeared from the public record, and his subsequent fate remains unknown.
Nicholas II of Russia
Nicholas II was the last Emperor of Russia, Grand Prince of Finland, and titular King of Poland. His official short title was Nicholas II, Emperor and Autocrat of All the Russias and he is known as Saint Nicholas the Passion-Bearer by the Russian Orthodox Church.Nicholas II ruled from 1894 until...
and his family at Yekaterinburg
Yekaterinburg
Yekaterinburg is a major city in the central part of Russia, the administrative center of Sverdlovsk Oblast. Situated on the eastern side of the Ural mountain range, it is the main industrial and cultural center of the Urals Federal District with a population of 1,350,136 , making it Russia's...
on July 17, 1918. He was both one of the first Alexei claimants, and one of the first Romanov claimants to generate any sort of serious publicity in the European and American press.
Overview
Ivanoff's claim was first documented in 1927 in the WarsawWarsaw
Warsaw is the capital and largest city of Poland. It is located on the Vistula River, roughly from the Baltic Sea and from the Carpathian Mountains. Its population in 2010 was estimated at 1,716,855 residents with a greater metropolitan area of 2,631,902 residents, making Warsaw the 10th most...
newspaper Express Poranny and the article was subsequently adapted for publication in the French journal Le Matin by Henry de Korab. In his version, Korab reported that he had heard rumours that "Grand Duke Alexis" (sic) was living as a refugee in Poland, either somewhere in Pomerelia
Pomerelia
Pomerelia is a historical region in northern Poland. Pomerelia lay in eastern Pomerania: on the southern shore of the Baltic Sea and west of the Vistula and its delta. The area centered on the city of Gdańsk at the mouth of the Vistula...
or on the outskirts of Bydgoszcz. He noted: "there is on the subject a little conspiracy of silence; the persons knowledgable about the matter have, no doubt, interest in being silent and only answer you by monosyllables".
By his own account, Ivanoff fled the Yekaterinberg massacre in the company of "an old Cossack" and, passing through Siberia
Siberia
Siberia is an extensive region constituting almost all of Northern Asia. Comprising the central and eastern portion of the Russian Federation, it was part of the Soviet Union from its beginning, as its predecessor states, the Tsardom of Russia and the Russian Empire, conquered it during the 16th...
, arrived at a German internment camp
Internment
Internment is the imprisonment or confinement of people, commonly in large groups, without trial. The Oxford English Dictionary gives the meaning as: "The action of 'interning'; confinement within the limits of a country or place." Most modern usage is about individuals, and there is a distinction...
and, with his knowledge of the German language, succeeded in gaining access. He was repatriated to Magdeburg
Magdeburg
Magdeburg , is the largest city and the capital city of the Bundesland of Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. Magdeburg is situated on the Elbe River and was one of the most important medieval cities of Europe....
but then, in 1919, travelled back to Poland because, as he put it, "wanting to be nearer to Russia, for I was expecting changes in my country". After arriving in Pomerelia, Ivanoff spent two years in the protection of Abbott Biernaz, parish priest of Chelmo
Chelmo
Chełmo is a village in the administrative district of Gmina Masłowice, within Radomsko County, Łódź Voivodeship, in central Poland. It lies approximately east of Radomsko and south of the regional capital Łódź....
, who was quoted as stating that the young man "is indeed the most authentic of the Czarevichs that he has, for several years, sheltered under his roof". The Abbott further noted that Ivanoff spoke perfect English, German and French, and that "he was knowledgeable of the lesser details of the court of Russia". He also appeared to suffer from haemophilia
Haemophilia
Haemophilia is a group of hereditary genetic disorders that impair the body's ability to control blood clotting or coagulation, which is used to stop bleeding when a blood vessel is broken. Haemophilia A is the most common form of the disorder, present in about 1 in 5,000–10,000 male births...
, just like the real Tsarevich Alexei.
At the time that the article was published, Ivanoff was reported to be living in Bydogoszcz as the guest of a Russian emigre family named Zuruk. It was noted that "he sews and embroiders: feminine craftsmanship that the authentic Czarevitch has picked up as a habit during his long illnesses". On Sundays, Ivanoff also liked to dress up in the uniform of the former Russian Imperial Army. A photograph of the claimant in uniform, which accompanied the original article, is reproduced in Guy Richard's 1970 book, The Hunt for the Czar.
Ivanoff's claim was subsequently reported in several North American newspapers, including the New York Times, the Schenectady Gazette (New Jersey) and the Victoria Daily Advocate (Texas).
After his initial flurry of international publicity, Ivanoff seems to have disappeared from the public record, and his subsequent fate remains unknown.
See also
- Romanov impostors